As a general rule, I try to avoid contact with sea creatures that have the ability to hurt me. It has worked out pretty well so far, except for that one time when I picked up a jellyfish.  I also have another rule:  always try new things, as long as they won’t hurt you.  When I heard the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens had an exhibit featuring stingrays you could touch and feed, I was intrigued.  Here was the perfect chance to try something new and break an otherwise unbreakable rule, all while petting stingrays. So, I grabbed an adventurous friend and we headed for Stingray Bay at the Jax Zoo.

Once you get to the zoo, it is pretty easy to find Stingray Bay, although you may be distracted by giraffes, jaguars, gorillas, and all of the other exotic animals who make their home here. We decided to put the mammals on hold, and after a quick walk from the main entrance we found Stingray Bay, which is well signed, as are reassuring reminders that these stingrays are "safe to touch." The exhibit is housed under a large white tent which covers a 17,000 gallon tank, complete with a small waterfall and lots of stingrays.

 
There are a few special rules once you enter Stingray Bay. We were asked to check our cameras and backpacks behind the main desk and wash our hands - and arms all the way up to our elbows - prior to approaching the stingray "swimming pool." Even though there was a family with small children actively touching the stingrays, before I approached the tank I had to ask one of the friendly stingray keepers what made these rays so special. She explained that all rays have a small "barb" on their tails which contains a stinger.  These rays can’t sting you because their barb has been trimmed, much like you might trim your fingernails. Good to know, but what if I get bit during feeding?  I learned that rays don’t have teeth. Instead, they feed via suction by opening their mouths and inhaling.

Out of excuses not to touch and feed the stingrays, I made my way to the tank, which is about four feet deep. Rays, of the Southern and Cowface variety, swam in a graceful clockwise direction. Most stayed in groups and at one point I wondered if they were engaged in some type of special stingray race. After careful examination, I decided to take the plunge. I made sure I aimed for a ray’s back, barb or no barb, I definitely didn’t want to touch the tail, and placed two fingers in the water. The stingray was fairly harmless and very cool. It felt surprisingly smooth, strong, and a little bit slippery. Empowered by this non-stinging experience, my friend and I spent the better part of an hour working our way around the tank and observing and touching the rays. Unfortunately, stingrays have a feeding schedule and our visit didn’t coincide with snack time, so I didn’t get to find out first hand whether or not rays are toothless. Since I didn’t get stung, I have to believe it is the truth. Plus, I have a good excuse to come back and see them again.

If you are planning on experiencing Stingray Bay, do so soon. The exhibit is open daily during the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s normal hours of 9-5, but after October 9th the exhibit will only be open on the weekends. Stingray Bay admission is $3, and if you happen to be there during feeding time (call ahead to make sure), food for the stingrays is $1. If you come to check it out, plan on spending an entire day at the zoo, it’s well worth it. There is a plan to re-open Stingray Bay as a daily exhibit in March of 2010, and rumor has it that the exhibit will expand to include sharks! Sharks definitely have teeth, so I doubt I will try to feed them, but it has to be safe to touch them, right? To stay updated on all stingray and shark activity, check out the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Stingray Bay page.